Victory a boost to advocacy vs disease: ‘Diabetic’ Kiwi rules Stage 2

IBA, Zambales, Philippines – Kiwi Scott Ambrose of Team Novo Nordisk, who has been a type 1  diabetic, pulled off the biggest victory of his young career as he beat Ronald Oranza of the Philippine national team for lap honors in Stage Two of the 2015 Le Tour de Filipinas that ended here.

The 20-year-old Ambrose joined the group that bolted away from the pack early in the 154.7-km race from Balanga, Bataan and stuck it out up front, maintaining his blistering pace until the finish to score his milestone win at three hours, 49 minutes and 52 seconds.

Oranza reached the finish line at the Zambales Provincial Capitol 13 seconds later to take runner-up honors in the lap. Ronald Yeung Yin of Attaque Team Gusto (ATG) who got the same time as the national rider, placed third.

Aside from Oranza, Filipino bet Baler Ravina of 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines, the 2012 champion, also made his presence felt, finishing sixth at 3:50:19 while topping the two KOM ascents.

Australian first stage winner Eric Sheppard of ATG and defending champion Mark Galedo of 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines got content crossing with the second bunch, 1:36 behind Ambrose, but maintained their 1-2 positions in the individual general classification race.

Sheppard logged 7:07:31 to stay at the top with Galedo breathing down his neck just three seconds adrift at the midpoint of the UCI Asia Tour race presented by Air21 and co-presented by the MVP Sports Foundation and Smart.

Ambrose vaulted into fifth overall in the general classification, 1:35 off Sheppard while Oranza also leapt to sixth from 25TH (1:57 behind).

“It’s a hard day, super challenging course – very hilly at the start and wind-swept in the second half. But we got the result so I’m super happy,” said Ambrose.

Ambrose’s triumph also scored for the advocacy of TNN, the first UCI continental team will Type 1 diabetes.

“We like to inspire other diabetics and show them what’s possible – that you could live a normal life with diabetis,” Ambrose said. “We see ourselves as equal competitors in races and we’re here to compete, we just have to manage our diabetis.”

Ambrose hooked up with four others to take the pace from the Bagac town in Bataan that seized a 55 second gap with the closest pack. Four more others, including TNN teammate Joonas Henttala, joined the breakaway group that added more and more to the gap as they negotiated the climbs in Morong and into Subic and Zambales.

By the time they reached the second sprint in Castillejos, Zambales, some 50 km to the finish, the pacesetters enjoyed a 7:47 headstart. The second group gradually sliced the gap as they rode through strong winds with some lahar dust in Cabangan town. Ambrose went for the solo dash in the last 3K.

Sheppard wears the yellow jersey again when the field pedals to Lingayen, Pangasinan for today’s Stage 3, riding on 150 km of flat roads amid windy conditions.

“I know it’s gonna be difficult to defend the (yellow) jersey,” said Sheppard. “Our plan was to save as much as we can everyday and it ended up working our well for us.”

“Hindi na namin hinabol, wala namang aagaw sa lead dun sa mga nasa harapan (We didn’t chase the lead pack anymore since no one in there is a threat to the general classification leaders),” said Galedo, whose squad took the solo lead in the team general classification.

One major contender for the individual title, 2013 ruler Ghader Mizbani of Tabriz, dropped out due to bum stomach.

 The event is also supported by Victory Liner, San Mig Zero, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Phils. and Canon with Isuzu, MAN Truck and Bus, Viking Rent-A-Car and NLEX.